Business Review No. 27, July 25 - 31 by Business Review

Links Adrian Ciobanu, managing partner at Reimens, fills BR in on telecom users’ main gripes and reveals what suggestions his company has put forward to deal with them »page 10

ROMANIA’S PREMIERE BUSINESS WEEKLY

July 25 - 31, 2011 / VOLUME 16, NUMBER 27

BANKS AND SOCIAL MEDIA LOCAL LENDERS ARE GENERALLY ASSOCIATED WITH TRADITION RATHER THAN NEW TRENDS, BUT THEY ARE ALL JUMPING ON BOARD THE SOCIAL MEDIA BANDWAGON »PAGE 8-9

From chilling out up on the roof to hanging out in the Old Town or cooling off in the pool, BR counts the ways to pass a super summer in Bucharest »pages 12 - 16

FILM REVIEW Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 spells the end of the boy wizard saga. But did the movie work its magic on our critic, or was it deathly dull? » page 13

3Q Ovidiu Solomonov, founder and main shareholder of ZiciAici.ro, talks about his innovative online customer-company interface » page 4

PROPERTY Trumpeted by the press as boasting a traditional ‘village’, numerous shops and set to bring the tourists flooding in? That’s Chinatown » page 17

Courtesy of Astrodom / Terrace

SUMMER IN THE CITY

www.business-review.ro Business Review | July 25 -31, 2011

NEWS 3

COVER STORY NEWS in brief Summer in the city

RETAIL H&M to open four more stores in Romania... International fashion retailer H&M AB has announced plans to open four more shops in Romania this year. So far, the retailer runs five outlets in Bucharest and one in Brasov. Hennes & Mauritz will expand in three new cities and open its sixth store in the capital. The first shops will open this September in Timisoara and Cluj, in the Iulius Mall shopping centers. A new outlet will begin trading in Bucharest’s Sun Plaza Shopping Center in November, and the fourth will be in Constanta, in the Shopping Maritimo Center.

... and Mercadia Holland opens four new Macro stores Courtesy of Hotel Residence

BR’s top tips for an enjoyable and relaxing Bucharest stay-cation If you are spending the summer holidays in Bucharest, let Business Review help you line up an itinerary of places to keep you cool and entertained throughout the hot holiday weather.

Bucharest inhabitants love eating al fresco and there is a wide range of venues at which to do so. Beer index for each attached.

A selection of traditional and non-traditional sights if you are looking to entertain friends coming to visit Romania’s capital city.

Bucharest’s historical center has seen much transformation over the past few years, and there is a myriad of ways to spend time here.

BR reviews a selection of the best venues to keep you cool on hot summer days and nights, from outdoor cinemas to waterparks.

RECYCLING Recolamp collects 67 tons of waste in H1 Recolamp Association collected 67 tons of waste – burnt out light bulbs and fluorescent light tubes – in the first half of this year, which represented 35 percent growth on the previous year, the group has announced. Recolamp’s waste collection infrastructure increased to 6,400 locations at the end of June. At the end of last year, the infrastructure network numbered 5,500 specialized containers. Recolamp was founded four years ago and has collected and recycled over 450 tons of waste to date. However, of all the companies, industrial platforms, hospitals and institutions that received containers from Recolamp, only 26 percent have ever delivered any waste.

HEALTHCARE MedLife posts EUR 23.8 mln turnover in H1

Photo: Laurentiu Obae

SUMMER SITES

Photo: Laurentiu Obae

OLD TOWN FAVORITES

Photo: Laurentiu Obae

TOUR FOR VISITING FRIENDS

Photo: Laurentiu Obae

TOP TERRACES

Mercadia Holland BV has announced that four new Macro units will begin trading by the end of this month, following total investments of about EUR 2 million. The company, which is controlled by businessman Dinu Patriciu, also operates the Mic.ro proximity store network. The four new Macro shops will open in Constanta, Craiova, Bran and Braila. The new units have sales areas that vary between 386 sqm and 932 sqm. The first Macro was opened this May in Brasov by rebranding one of the company’s local MiniMax units. Mercadia representatives announced at the time that the company planned to rebrand all of its other 55 MiniMax stores countrywide under the Macro concept and to open new ones, bringing the network to about 100 units by the end of this year.

MedLife posted a turnover of EUR 23.8 million in the first half of the year, a 37 percent growth on the same period of 2010, when the figure was EUR 17.35 million. The growth in revenues in the first six months was a result of investments in the retail segment, plus new acquisitions and

greenfield investments during the past 12 months. These included the launch of PharmaLife pharmacies, the acquisition of a major share package in two clinics, PDR Brasov and Genesys Medical Clinic, Arad, and the opening of the MedLife Titan Hyperclinic and MedLife Pediatrics Hospital. MedLife intends to focus on new investments in the second half of the year, opening two new hospitals, one in Bucharest and the other elsewhere. The company will also set up a Center for Excellence in Dermatology which will be part of the MedLife Baneasa Hyperclinic and will expand its PharmaLife chain by another four units.

TELECOM UPC denies takeover speculation After months of press speculation that UPC is in discussions over a potential takeover by RCS&RDS, an official statement from UPC officials was given to media outlets, in which the company denied the rumors. UPC Romania had 904,200 cable clients at the end of Q1, 2011, down 12.78 percent on Q1, 2010. The number of TV customers was 1,139,700, down 6.53 percent from the same period of 2010. Its number of internet users was 256,200, a 5.60 percent drop on the previous year, while landline telephony customers fell to 144,800, down 5.42 on Q1, 2010. The total number of subscriptions in UPC Romania was 1,540,700 at the end of Q1, 2011, 6.27 percent fewer than in Q1, 2010.

POWER EBRD lends EUR 10 million to EnergoBit ESCO The EBRD has lent EUR 10 million to EnergoBit ESCO, a subsidiary of EnergoBit Group SA, to finance energy efficiency projects, mainly in the Romanian municipal sector. The projects will range from conducting energy saving studies and engineering assessments to installing energy efficient public lighting, introducing combined heat and power generation as well as implementing small scale co-generation projects for industrial clients. “There is a growing demand for ESCO services in Romania. With this loan to EnergoBit ESCO we are supporting Romania in its aim to achieve a 20 per cent energy saving target by 2020,” said Claudia Pendred, EBRD director for Romania. ESCOs are used worldwide to provide a broad range of services including design, financing and procurement for energy saving projects. Usually the energy saving measures are provided at no cost to the company’s client, while the ESCO recovers its investments based on the energy and cost savings achieved. Cluj-based EnergoBit Group is one of the largest electrical engineering companies in Romania, which operates 17 companies with over 800 employees across the country.

www.business-review.ro Business Review | July 25 -31, 2011

4 NEWS

3Q Ovidiu Solomonov

AGRICULTURE

Romania ‘could see 40 percent increase in wheat production by 2020’

How did you get the idea of founding ZiciAici.ro? The idea to develop a transparent communication platform between consumers and companies originated from a personal experience I had with an insurance company that did not respect the terms of my contract. Each time I tried to talk to them, I had the feeling that they were not interested in my problems, that for them I was just the number of a contract. This is how it dawned on me to develop a platform to give consumers a strong voice through social media and companies the chance to manage their reputation online.

What domains do member companies come from and why are their customers generally unhappy? Companies who are members of this website come mainly from banking, telecom, retail and pharma. In banking, the most common reason for customers’ dissatisfaction is the quality of services – for instance, the online banking application does not work, there are problems in activating the card, the bank's employees show a lack of interest, and miscommunication. In telecom, the discontent is related mainly to difﬁcult interaction with support services and unclear contractual terms. In retail, there are issues with the attitude of employees, the quality of the merchandise and the fact that prices posted on the shelves do not correspond with the price at the cash register. otilia.haraga@business-review.ro

Valeriu Tabara, agriculture minister

ternal consumption should also go up. “I believe in the growth of the internal market. The cereal market will be a very

good one. We will have good yields for all crops, including vegetables and fruit bearing trees,” noted the official. He added that the total value of this year’s vegetal production will exceed EUR 10 billion. Furthermore, the black market has plummeted to about 10-15 percent in 2011, said Tabara. “For cereals alone, tax evasion accounted for several billion last year,” added the minister. Also present at the event, Nicusor Serban, vice-president of the agricultural producer association LAPAR, said that tax evasion involving cereals had plunged by about 70-80 percent following the application of the reverse tax. “Reverse taxation is a fair measure but only if the state meets the 30-day deadline for refunding VAT to farmers,” said Serban. Reverse taxation was introduced in June for cereals and technical plants. The measure will apply until 1 January 2013 as a way to fight tax evasion. ∫ Simona Bazavan

R&D

European Union injects EUR 7 bln into innovation, launches calls for proposals EU FUNDING FOR RESEARCH

STOCKEXCHANGE

How did the website come about? Several tens of thousands of EUR were invested in the development of the platform ZiciAici.ro, which came exclusively from shareholders' accounts. I am the main shareholder, who actively runs the website, and the other two investors are friends of mine. In total, 20 people took part in developing and promoting the platform but I will be the only one who will dedicate himself full-time to the project. So far the website has been accessed by more than 20,000 visitors. Over 700 user accounts have been created and 400 opinions published. In order to facilitate the involvement of companies in the project, we chose to offer them an initial free trial period in which they can communicate with consumers without paying a membership fee.

Courtesy of Gov.ro

founder and main shareholder of ZiciAici.ro

omania could see a 40 percent increase in national wheat production by 2020, taking the figure to about 8 million tons, said the agriculture minister, Valeriu Tabara, during a seminar organized by Mediafax last week. He added that half of the potential output could be exported, putting Romania among the largest wheat exporters in the world. “But this isn’t easy. Why shouldn’t price formation take place at the Black Sea since we have large productions there?” said Tabara, calling for the setting up of a grain exchange. In 2010 Romania’s total wheat production was 5.7 million tons. The minister commented that prices were close to cost level. Romania’s trade deficit for food products has fallen to EUR 462 million since the beginning of the year, down by about 16 percent against the same period of last year, announced Tabara. In addition to higher demand from foreign markets, Tabara argued that in-

A lot of bottle: FP7 is the largest research finance program in the world

he European Union launched last week the biggest ever call for proposals to fund European research and innovation, totaling around EUR 7 billion, as announced by the European Commissioner for Research Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn. This chunk of financing is granted as part of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), the largest program that finances research in the world, with a budget of more than EUR 53 billion for 2007-2013. When they adopted the Europe 2020 strategy and, later, the flagship Innovation Union program in February 2011, EU member states committed to make research and innovation a priority and the foundation of their investment plans in jobs and sustainable growth. This should allow Europe to compete on a par with bigger and more dynamic countries like the United States and China. Potential beneficiaries in all EU member states, which include Romania, can tap into this EUR 7 billion to finance their research projects. In total, it is estimated that

the program will generate around 174,000 jobs in the near future. During the next 15 years, approximately 450,000 positions will be created and the EU’s GDP is estimated to grow by nearly EUR 80 billion. There will be 16,000 beneficiaries of the financing – universities, research organizations and companies. Special attention will be given to small and medium sized enterprises, which will benefit from a financing package of nearly EUR 1 billion. Most of the calls for applications, which were made through a public auction to obtain funds, were published on July 20. “Competition in the EU for these funds will gather the best researchers and innovators in Europe with a view to approaching the greatest challenges of our time, such as energy, food supply safety, climate change and the aging of the population. The Commission proposes a substantial growth in the funds allocated after 2013 to research and innovation in the program Horizon 2020,” said Geoghegan-Quinn. ∫ Otilia Haraga

EUR 656 mln available for research into healthcare, including EUR 220 mln for activities related to the challenge of population aging. EUR 3.1 bln for research into IT and communication, including EUR 240 mln for activities related to population aging. The rest will go into developing network infrastructure and services, digital content, linguistic technologies and applications for health and energy efficiency. EUR 1.6 bln will be granted by the European Research Council to the best researchers working in Europe. EUR 900 mln will be used to support 10,000 highly qualified researchers, including EUR 20 million for a pilot project that finances European industrial PhDs, to stimulate entrepreneurship and cooperation among universities, research institutions and companies. EUR 265 mln for environmental research for tackling climate change, the decline of biodiversity and efficient use of resources EUR 307 mln will go towards healthier and safer food products by improving production methods. SMEs will benefit from nearly EUR 1 bln of financing and special incentives to participate in the research initiative EUR 488 mln will be invested into nanotechnology EUR 313 mln will go into research and innovation into cleaner, safer and more efficient transport EUR 40 mln will go into the Smart Cities initiative to find more efficient ways to use energy and run public transport

www.business-review.ro Business Review | July 25 -31, 2011

6 NEWS MONUMENTS

EU REPORT

EC: Romania must improve judi- Arcul de Triumf to get EUR 7 cial reform, reduce corruption million refurbishment Romania needs to make further progress in judicial reform and the fight against corruption, the fifth EU annual report under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism with Bulgaria and Romania states. In the case of Bulgaria, conclusions include the need for further progress in the battle against organized crime. The reports stress in particular that the judiciary in both countries should step up reform efforts. In the summer of 2012, the European Commission will make an overall assessment of Bulgaria and Romania's progress under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism since accession, and subsequently make appropriate proposals. The report on Romania commends the significant steps the country has taken since the last annual report of July 2010. Romania, it says, has improved judicial efficiency, re-established the legal basis of the National Integrity Agency, continued preparations for the implementation of the four new codes, started preparations for a functional review of the judicial system and carried out an impact analysis of its anti-corruption policy. But the report also notes that consistency and results in a number of areas remain a challenge and that progress in the fight against corruption still needs to be pursued. The report concludes that Romania

needs to take urgent action to accelerate high-level corruption trials and to prevent their collapse due to the expiry of statutebarred periods. The fight against corruption should remain a top priority, with support from Parliament, and urgent measures should be taken to improve the recovery of the proceeds of crime, action against money laundering and protection against conflict of interest in the management of public funds. European Commissioner Dacian Ciolos commented: “It is undoubtedly a positive report in its entirety, reflecting the political will and real progress made by Romania in the past year. Still, there are nuances and areas where there is still a need for additional efforts, and for more involvement from all parties, not just the executive.” As in previous reports, the Commission's analysis is based on an assessment of progress by the Bulgarian and Romanian authorities and on information by member states, international organizations, independent experts and a variety of other sources. The Commission has carried out several missions to Bulgaria and Romania, including with the support of experts from other member states. The reports also reflect the responses of Bulgaria and Romania to detailed questionnaires prepared by the Commission. ∫ Staff

Arch look: a EUR 7 million makeover Flagship Bucharest historical monument Arcul de Triumf (the Arch of Triumph) will undergo refurbishment works costing EUR 7 million. Part of the sum (approximately EUR 5.1 million) will come from EU funding. The announcement was made by Bucharest’s mayor, Sorin Oprescu, who said that a financing contract for the consolidation, refurbishment and conservation of the structure

would be signed with the Regional Development and Tourism Ministry soon. The request for refurbishment works on the monument was filed in December 2009 but the evaluation lasted for more than a year and a half. At the same time, the City Hall and the ministry will sign financing contracts for the consolidation and refurbishment of the Vasile Urseanu Astronomic Observatory in Bucharest. Financing for the EUR 2.5 million project was approved in April this year. Other projects awaiting evaluation include the refurbishment and modernization of the Dr. Victor Gomoiu children’s’ hospital and the Foisor hospital. The first financing contracts under the Regional Operational Program were signed for the consolidation, refurbishment and preservation of the Casa Cesianu and Nicolae Minovici museum in Bucharest. The two contracts have a total value of EUR 5.4 million. Works are expected to start this fall. Arcul de Triumf is located on Kiseleff Boulevard. Built to the design of architect Petre Antonescu, it is 27 meters tall. Inaugurated in September 1936, it commemorates the Romanian heroes of the War of Independence and World War One. ∫ Staff

www.business-review.ro Business Review | July 25 -31, 2011

8 MONEY

Social media lend banks a helping hand

Dreamstime

Lenders around the world have been slow to embrace social media, mainly because this novel form of communication represents a whole new way of thinking about their business. But one of the biggest challenges that banking faces could become a huge opportunity for players that use it right, say experts. ∫ ANDA SEBESI As social media use has become ubiquitous, industries have been hard at work determining how best to take advantage of popular social network communities. With Facebook having over 500 million active users, Twitter processing over 155 million tweets per day and LinkedIn posting details of over 100 million registered professionals, it is no wonder organizations are looking for ways to leverage what social networks bring: people. With the explosion of interest in social media and online networking, lenders have realized that they need to reassess their business models and dedicate some resources to this environment. International specialists say that the advent of social media has created a tipping point in the industry as more and

more bank customers migrate to popular networks. It is obvious that the impact on lenders is complex, from communicating with customers to how they deliver their products. At the international level many banks and financial institutions have chosen to capitalize on the potential of social media. From Bank of America to Discover Financial, American Express to Wells Fargo, firms have dipped their toes into the ocean of social media. According to international press reports, Bank of America, the biggest US bank, has engaged a top recruiter to hire three executives to run its online and mobile banking operations. The move comes as smart phones become more popular and customers abandon cash in favor of electronic payment systems. In other words, social media is a new world that no

player can afford to ignore. Lenders are using social media to tap into a growing demographic and to control the conversation about their brands, say international specialists. In practice, the appeal of social networking is that it offers instant communication with customers. “For the banking system, social media is a took intended to educate and open a dialogue with those who no longer really trust banks. Besides, lenders can improve their image, open a new communication channel with their customers and promote their products on online platforms,” says Cristian Manafu, consultant at The Connector. “Social media is a longterm commitment – or at least it should be.” According to Shuja Shaikh, managing director at Kubis Interactive, an online marketing agency, both banks and other

financial institutions want to get rid of their impersonal image and try to promote a community, rather than appear monolithic and imposing. “With a focus on better customer service, banks are adopting a personality that brings the human factor into financial services. In addition, social networks are powerful research and development tools,” says Shaikh. Because of the open communication found on social media, it is easier for companies to monitor their brand identity, share their brand values and build trust. In addition, younger people communicate a great deal through social networks and are increasingly ignoring traditional press, broadcasters and marketing. “This makes social media the best platforms to test and launch innovative services and get immediate feedback,” says the Kubis Interactive MD. He considers social media a great opportunity for brands to build a good reputation. Although it is a general trend, Manafu says that local banks have sought their own place in the world of social media and have taken their own specific approach to this new channel based on their needs. “More than this, in many cases they have created real case studies for other countries,” he says. Turning to the success that Romanian operations have enjoyed in social media, Shaikh says it that it is based on strategies adopted by sister-branches across the world, which local managers have tweaked to make them suit the behavior of local users of Romanian social platforms. “For Romanian-based banks it is a competitive learning process,” he says. As for the benefits for lenders, Manafu adds that in the first place it is about making their presence felt in social media and proving to their customers that they can be found there. “An ideal situation would be to open a channel of customer service and communicate their products and services. For a strong bank it is important that its offline and online presence are strong and diversified in order to reach many people as possible,” he says. The economic turmoil makes it even more important for businesses to reach out to customers any way they can. Sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Foursquare are contributing to how companies sell their branded products. “Banks are getting involved in social media because they need to be talked about. They have to be prepared to open up their system, become more transparent and get up to speed with everything,” argues Shaikh.

Lenders bank on social media BCR, BRD-Groupe Societe Generale, Citibank, GarantiBank, Raiffeisen Bank, ING, Banca Transilvania are among the banks present on the Romanian market that have decided to jump on the social media bandwagon. By having a page on

www.business-review.ro Business Review | July 25 -31, 2011

Facebook or Twitter or being present on LinkedIn, players are choosing to exploit the potential of this environment and use this opportunity to promote their image and products. For example, Biz magazine and Blogal Initiative rolled out a social media campaign for BCR from June 6-July 5, which promoted the bank’s refinancing loan. During this period the combination of terms “BCR refinancing” was mentioned in Romanian social media 483 times on blogs, Twitter, Facebook and the online press. Overall, the estimated reach for all “BCR refinancing” hits in the blogosphere was 1.5 million unique visitors and 2.6 million impressions. “The results of the campaign were beyond our expectations. During this campaign, BCR’s visibility on blogs increased by 150 percent,” says Daniel Pana, marketing manager at BCR. Banca Transilvania (BT) chose to be present on social media – on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn – because the bank considers it an environment that generates awareness of its brand and it intends to be present in all the environments where it is talked about. According to BT representatives, online social networks give the lender a new way to interact with its audience. As for Twitter, this is a channel that the lender intends to develop in the future. At present, the bank uses the online message service to put out news about its activity, exchange rates and the quotations of the investment funds of BT Asset Management SAI. BT decided to tap into social media a few years ago when it first contributed to YouTube. In addition, since 2009 it has had its own profile on Face-

MONEY 9 book. Now the lender has a social media community of about 4,000 people. The most recent campaign rolled out exclusively on social media was the “Agenda BT Art” contest. Its goal was to promote one of the bank’s innovative projects – the BT Agenda – and its Facebook profile. As a result, the number of downloads of the BT Agenda increased by 100 percent while

says Catuneanu. She adds that a formal approach is no longer enough. “There is a need for interactive ways to transmit the benefits of our products and services.” At present, the bank is running a campaign on Facebook intended to encourage bill payments through alternative channels – internet banking, ATMs, direct debit – and at the bank’s counter. According to Bianca Dordea, brand and communication director at BRD“Facebook is an ideal tool Groupe Societe Generale, the lender started to think about social media at the benot only for increasing ginning of last year, with its profiles on sobrand awareness, but cial networks going live in the second half of 2010. “Our Facebook profile gathered also to obtain valuable over 3,000 fans in less than a year,” says insight directly from Dordea. She adds that the bank’s decision to have a presence on social media came the consumers of naturally as the number of users is conbanking services,” stantly growing. In addition, many of Bianca Dordea them are interested in the financial-banking system. “Facebook is an ideal tool not only for the promotion of the contest through increasing brand awareness, but also to obtain valuable insight directly from the Facebook generated over 5,500 entries. Similarly, Andreea Catuneanu, PR and consumers of banking services,” adds advertising manager at Garanti Bank Ro- Dordea. According to her, the bank has mania, says that social media can no tried to animate its profile on social media using original ways of interacting longer be ignored. “We take an integrated approach to communication with our with its users. “For example, they had the chance to customers where communication channels complete one another and help us to post messages to encourage the ARCA be permanently in touch with our target,” team of scientists, supporting their experiment to send the first Romanian rockshe says. et into space. They could also participate The bank started to communicate actively and strategically on its Facebook in contests to win meetings with Ilie Naspage in April. “The main benefit is that we tase and Nadia Comaneci,” says the diare always connected with our customers, rector. The bank was also the first to host receive feedback more easily and can act an online chat on Facebook with potenquickly in order to improve our services,” tial buyers interested in accessing credit

through the First House Program. And the results were promising, she says. “The contests generated a 10 percent increase in the number of fans of our page in 10 days, while the online chat organized on Facebook about the First House program meant that we reached our available allocation for this type of loan in less than two weeks,” says Dordea. Last but not least, Raiffeisen Bank launched Raiffeisen Community, an online platform for debate and a source of information about its community, at the end of May. The Raiffeisen Community also has a Facebook profile. “It is a blog for our community, employees, partners, customers and friends where we talk about urban ecology, sport as part of a healthy lifestyle, education, art and culture,” says Corina Vasile, senior director of the communication and PR department at Raiffeisen Bank. “We sell solutions for the most diversified financial needs that a person can have. That’s why we are interested in what people think, do and the ideas they have. You can find out more quickly and directly what people think and what problems their communities face, and thus we can react more rapidly,” says Vasile. Under the same name of Raiffeisen Community the lender has started a contest for projects to improve the quality of life in local communities. “The contest is being held exclusively online, in the social media style. The projects that win the grant will be the ones that gain the most votes on the www.raiffeisencomunitati.ro blog,” adds Vasile.

anda.sebesi@business-review.ro

www.business-review.ro Business Review | July 25 -31, 2011

10 LINKS com to be able to tell how the system works and have experience with certain tariff plans. I am the only one who does the sales, negotiates for clients. Over the last four years, clients have approached us, but since the beginning of this year, I have started to target companies that fit a certain customer profile. What turnover did you post last year and what are your estimations for 2011? Last year, we posted a turnover of nearly EUR 50,000. In 2009, it amounted to EUR 40,000. The business grows on average 15-20 percent a year. It is hard to make estimations for this year because I never know what will happen in the next six months. In my case, I can double my turnover in two months. You don’t know what opportunities lie in a client’s telecom bill, and since we are paid with a percentage of the final result, what we will earn is anyone’s guess.

Photo: Laurentiu Obae

Operators ‘rely on lack of customer information’ Adrian Ciobanu, managing partner at Reimens, the first and so far only telecom services auditing and optimization firm on the Romanian market, tells BR the most frequent causes of discontent for telecom clients and what changes Reimens has suggested to fix them. ∫ OTILIA HARAGA How many people does your team include? The team numbers 10 people but can vary depending on the projects under way. Some people are only called upon for certain projects. Some of them process bills, others centralize them and draft reports, others are specialized in legal matters and

their job is to check the contracts. I am the only seller who has direct interaction with the client. We strive to maintain a small number of projects precisely because we want to have enough time to spend on each project. To look over thousands of pages of bills and check them is time consuming. Plus, at this moment there are not so many people able to do this job, because they need certain skills: they need to have worked in tele-

What are your customers’ most frequent causes of discontent? A client who has migrated from another operator expects certain services to change on any of the following three levels. One is the technical aspect: the previous operator had technical issues with the network and the client expects the current provider not to have any. Another is the pricing: the client expects the current offer to be more advantageous. Thirdly, and most frequently, the account management is an issue. Unfortunately, most of our customers’ problems are related to this. While the quality of networks has aligned since providers have invested in their networks, and the pricing issue is fairly simple to evaluate, human interaction generates most problems. What are the reasons for these human errors? These have to do with the management of the telecom companies, some of which are very large and bureaucratic. There are all kinds of things that cause discontent, for instance the very late implementation of an offer, negotiations that drag on forever, contracts that do not arrive from the operator for over a month because a whole array of managers need to sign them. In other companies, other problems appear. Account managers are under extreme financial pressure: their targets have hiked, more than the market can take, with the aim of decreasing their earnings. This generates a great deal of frustration and abnormal behavior. What I come across very frequently is that operators oblige their clients to sign up for some services they do not need. The reason is that they need to meet their targets and figures. This is a market anomaly at the moment. From the point of view of the quality of the labor force, the situation is very bad. People who were trained by Connex and Dialog were very well paid and trained and a lot was invested in them. This showed. Nearly all the people recruited between 1998 and 2000 are successful professionals. Now, workers migrate from one operator to another and feel out of place because they are not well paid or trained, because not as much is invested in them. What causes errors on customers’ bills? Lack of attention is one cause, but not the

CV Adrian Ciobanu October 2007 Owner of Reimens Group September 2007 Sales Consultant at Technet Consulting December 2003 - September 2007 Account Manager at Vodafone August 2002 - December 2003 Dealer Channel Manager at Vodafone December 1999 - August 2002 Team Leader at Connex Info Center May 1999 - December 2000 Sales representative at Vodafone (formerly Mobifon) only one. Due to cost reductions, teams in all departments were downsized, including the department in charge of implementing offers or contract modifications. People working there also have targets and are overloaded. Over the past four years, we have audited more than 100 companies and in 70 percent of the cases, we found bill implementation errors. Have you sent proposals to the authorities? We sent a set of proposals to increase transparency on the telecom market to ANCOM a year ago, but nothing has happened yet. The telecom law must be debated this year so probably such a discussion has not yet been on the agenda. But I expect something to happen. Operators rely a great deal on clients’ lack of information and negotiation skills. Of course, we are talking about the majority of the market, not the 10 percent of businesses who have informed people in Romania. For instance, there are operators who offer packages with included credit. When looking at the bill, if you have not surpassed your credit, you do not see the tariffs or the minutes you consumed. What kind of transparency is that? There are obstacles placed in the path of clients. Another proposal we made was that there should be no limit to the number of unused minutes rolled over from one month to the next, throughout the contract. Furthermore, we proposed that when the tariff plan changes, the minutes or the credit that had been rolled over until that point should not be lost when the new tariff plan comes into force. Another proposal is that operators should post the value of the phone call on the bill, even if it is zero. In this way, you can check if the tariff plan is being implemented correctly, which at the moment you cannot always do. An additional proposal stems from the fact that there are clients, especially end users, who pay even more after the “renegotiation” of their contract. There is a precedent created by a firm in Europe, which gives you the possibility to modify the tariff plan within three months if the costs you have now are higher than before. I think this is the right thing to do. In Romania you generally cannot do it, there are even restrictions on modifying the tariff plan for six months. Some errors on customers’ bills date back one to two years. Maybe telecom providers should also be fined for these errors (just as customers are fined for being late in paying their bill) with a percentage that is applied to the time span in which they kept the client’s money in their accounts. If I pay a penalty for being late in paying my bill, why shouldn’t they pay for their errors?

www.business-review.ro Business Review | July 25 -31, 2011

12 SUMMER IN THE CITY

Summer As the mercury rises and many Romanian companies begin winding down their activities for the summer holiday, with a list of the best places to spend your summer days and nights. From top terraces to cool pools, read on for our Bonton Palace This place is stunning, but only for its size. It has a roof terrace which is used for private or corporate events, and a massive lakeside terrace which can easily accommodate more than 500 seated revelers. It has no need of plants and ﬂowers, as the surrounding shrubbery of the lake gives a shaded green impression. Its downside is a permanent ﬂoodlit runway in the middle of the terrace, which can be used for fashion shows. This feature lends it an air of vulgarity, but what else can you expect? This is, after all, Herastrau! Address: Herastrau Park, 1 Nordului Reservations: 0745 999 222 Beer: RON 12

Embassy Terrace

Courtesy of Residence Hotel

Astrodom terrace on the roof of Residence Hotel in 33, Alexandru Constantinescu street, close to Casin church area

TERRACES

Situated beside the Atheneum, this terrace is big. It has had several owners over the years, but it is now held by Il Calcio, so you can expect indifferent socalled Italian food. Every table is shaded with an umbrella, which is just as well because there are no trees or shrubs to lower the temperature. Its greatest virtue is its size, so this adds to its popularity. Address: 1-3 Str. Franklin Reservations: 0732 528 140 Beer: RON 11

L’Escargot In an area off Eminescu, and surrounded by other restaurants (Chinese, Spanish, Indian, Mexican) this place stands out as the best. It is a bistro style dump inside, but it has a charming small terrace at the rear. It is crowned with giant ﬁg trees (but I think the neighbors have pinched all the ﬁgs) and apricot trees

full of fruit which occasionally drop onto your table. Pricy (but good) French food. Address: 101 Str. Toamnei. Reservations: 021 201 7133 Beer: RON 9

La Strada This terrace has become an institution in this city. It has undergone a huge renovation and has to be the ‘greenest’ terrace (literally) in town. There used to be a simple BBQ menu last year, but now it has been upgraded to a full a la carte Mediterranean menu which is surprisingly inexpensive. It’s well worth a shot. Old Bucharest hands will be surprised at the changes they have made since last year. There is a range of beers. Address: Hilton Hotel Reservations: 021 303 3777 Beer: from RON 15

Lipscani district Here we have an area where it is a 365 days a year, permanent Oktoberfest. It is all beer swilling, fun loving, non-violent fun, with a few restaurants interspersed between the bars. Sufﬁce it to say that every owner in Lipscani must have a terrace, but that terrace can only be on the pavement. Beer: RON 6-8 Nearest metro station: Unirii, Universitate

Photo: Laurentiu Obae

Despite Bucharest’s pollution, broken streets and animal bad manners by drivers, the city has one crowning glory, which is the population’s obsession with eating al fresco. So the owners of bars, restaurants and hotels have been quick to cash in on the demand for open-aired dining to such a point that it has become de rigueur to have a terrace, albeit of any size – nothing is too small.

Il Calcio

The small chain of Embassy bars/restaurants has been the success story of the year. Without doing anything right, they got it right. By word of mouth and without advertising, this terrace, in a dingy location, has become a raging success. The furniture is cheap junk, there is shade but no greenery, but the people just love it. It positively heaves with beautiful (and I mean beautiful) young things, drinking and rocking (in their seats) through the night. Slow, slow service, so get there early. Address: 8 Piata Lahovari. Reservations: 0733 500 300 Beer: RON 9

Lipscani, old town

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SUMMER IN THE CITY 13

in the city thoughts are turning to R&R. Business Review sent its reporters and correspondents across the city to come up sizzling summer selection. Aparthotel Reservations: 0040 21 312 70 70 Beer: RON 12

Gargantua This lovely place is eccentrically attractive inside, but in addition it boasts a delightfully, leafy ‘green’ terrace on the fringes of Parcul Icoanei. In fact, the little terrace has better maintained grassy and shrub areas than the park. It is best visited for lunch or dinner, as it is not a place you would chill out at with nothing but a cold beer. So look over their menu and go there to dine, as it is well recommended.

Photo: Laurentiu Obae

Embassy

Radisson Pool Side Grill Terrace The most notable feature of this glittering hotel is its pool, surrounding area and bar. It is best seen at Sunday brunch where if you dine, you can swim in the open air pool – and if you are early enough, you get a pool sun lounger. If you choose not to brunch, no matter, as you can drink at the pool bar, or the larger second bar around the dining tables. During weekdays, it is still stunning, a taste of ‘Bucharest Beach’. It is best experienced whilst there is still some sun, or daylight. Address: 63 – 81 Calea Victoriei Reservations: 021 311 9000 Beer: from RON 15

Centre Ville Le Bistro

Address: 4 Luterana, at Centre Ville

Prices vary from affordable (RON 10.50, caviar d’olives) to expensive (RON 99, mixed grill). Address: 19 Clucerului Street Reservations: 0733 109 137

SkyBar Dorobanti Opened in April 2010, after nine months of preparations, this café with a bar’s name has brought a new concept to the Bucharest leisure scene: a roof bar, inspired by similar locations in Los Angeles. Addressing a medium- to high-

earning clientele, businesspeople and tourists, the eclectic music menu includes chill-out sessions during the daytime and cocktail-appropriate rhythms later at night. Situated in Bucharest’s poshest neighborhood, Dorobanti, SkyBar uses location and design as its key differentiators. With the latter by Mihnea Ghildus, the venue boasts branded decor and futuristic facilities. It also has its very own catering ﬁrm and focuses on natural ingredients. Skybar is open daily, from 10.00 until the last customer. Prices vary from affordable to average (an espresso is RON 9, a frappe RON 21) Address: Calea Dorobanti 155, 5th ﬂoor Reservations: 0724 SKYBAR (0724 759 227)

Hanul Lui Manuc What a delightful surprise this place is. This fabled 16th century coaching inn was (until now) the haunt of tourists and pensioners reliving their communist past. But those days are gone. Now it is as vibrant and cool as the rest of Lipscani. The entire interior is one giant courtyard, which constitutes its terrace. The food is either Romanian, or better still, the alternative is one of the best Lebanese restaurants in town. Enter from the Lipscani end, or alternatively use the Unirii entrance entitled ‘restaurant Manuc’, and then go upstairs to their terrace. Address: Piata Unirii/Lipscani. Reservations: 021.313.14.11 Beer: RON 7

Oliviers Restaurant and Astrodom Terrace Oliviers offers ﬁne organic food in a secluded yet heart-of-the-city location, part of Residence Hotel. The restaurant serves a variety of healthy courses, all created with organic products from the company's own crops. They are free from colorings and preservatives and are prepared in copper cookware. Sometimes, during the evening, there is also live piano music. The menu is renewed every season with more delightful dishes and is accompanied by a wide selection of wines. The cuisine embraces both Mediterranean aromas and traditional Romanian dishes. Specialties include: “Foie gras de canard”, “Involtini alla parmigiana”, “Papardelle al

Courtesy of SkyBar

This beauty is seamlessly attached to the Radisson pool. So enter it from Luterana and go upstairs, or just walk through the Radisson pool and you will see it at the end of the Rad. It differs from the Rad in as much as it is ‘green’, surrounded by a potted ﬂower, tree and shrub garden. They also have live music from time to time. Their menu is ’mid Med’ and very good.

Address: 69 Jean Louis Calderon, Parcul Icoanei Reservations: 0722 702 560

tartufo”, “Ravioli al pesto”, “Caviar d'ólive”, “Grilled octopus”, “Grilled Dorada”, “Sea bass with aromatic herbs”, and homemade “Petit Four.” Open: Monday-Sunday, 12:00-23:30.

SkyBar Dorobanti

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14 SUMMER IN THE CITY

struggling. Foreigners should not leave Bucharest without eating here once. Call ahead to check what night old Vlad is doing his bit.

TOUR FOR VISITING FRIENDS

Address: 8A Stra Splaiul Independentei. Reservations: 021 312 1353. www.count-dracula.ro

When you have been living in Bucharest for some time, it can be difficult to remember which top tourist attractions most impressed you upon arrival. So when friends are in town for a couple of days, the following itinerary should help you show your visitors the best of Bucharest.

Round the night off with some clubbing. There are venues very close to Count Dracula Club, or you can head back to the Old Town.

Day 2

Photo: Laurentiu Obae

Stavropoleos Church, the inner courtyard

Day 1 Village Museum Peasant Museum People’s House Stavropoleos Church Dracula restaurant

Romanian Peasant Museum

Start your day at the village museum. If you’re using public transport, head to Aviatorilor metro station.

Village Museum The Village Museum is an open-air ethnographic museum in Herastrau Park, showcasing traditional Romanian village life. Covering over 100,000 sqm, it contains an estimated 300 authentic peasant farms and houses brought from all over Romania and reassembled bit by bit in the park, clustered and arranged to show the real pattern of Romanian villages, with winding paths between them. They are organized in Romania's ethnographical regions: Transylvania, Moldova, Dobrogea and Muntenia for an absorbing tour of the country's rich tradition of folk architecture and art as well as a pleasant walk that makes one forget that the museum is located in the heart of the city. Visiting hours are 9.00 - 17:00 on Mondays and 9:00 - 19:00 during the rest of the week. The museum also features a shop for purchasing souvenirs, inspired by local villages. Admission is RON 6.

Address: Kiseleff Street 3, Sector 1; nearest subway station: Piata Victoriei; Information: 021 317 96 60, 021 317 96 61, e-mail: info@muzeultaranuluiroman.ro, website: www.muzeultaranuluiroman.ro

Now is a good time to stop for some refreshments at one of the many cafes near Piata Victoriei that serve the local ofﬁce workers, as there’s a lot more walking in store! When you’re rested, jump in a cab to the People’s House, or take the metro straight to Izvor.

Address: Kiseleff Str. 28-30, sector 1 From here the Peasant Museum is reasonably walkable, or you can jump on a bus.

People’s House

From here the Peasant Museum is reasonably walkable, or you can jump on a bus.

Photo: Laurentiu Obae

Village Museum

The People’s House, aka the Palace of the Parliament, was designed and nearly completed by the Ceausescu regime as the seat of political and administrative power. Nicolae Ceausescu named it the House of the Republic (Casa Republicii), but many Romanians call it the People's House (Casa Poporului). Now the building contains both chambers of the Romanian Parliament and is said to be the world's largest civilian administrative building. A tour of the building costs RON 15. Tours are held daily, between 10.00 and 16.00, but may be cancelled if conferences or seminars are taking place. Book ahead and bring an identity card

Start the day in the peaceful environs of the Bellu Cemetery, in the south of the city. If you’re not taking a cab, the best metro station is Eroii Revolutiei.

Bellu Cemetery or passport. Address: Educational Center, the Chamber of Deputies, Izvor Str. 2-4; Information: 021 414 14 26, e-mail: educatie@cdep.ro; website: www.parliamentpalace.ro

Time for a total chance of scenery. From the People’s House, stroll back towards the Old Town. With a slight detour your route can take you via the glorious Cismigiu Park. If you need a rest after the climbing of the tour, there are numerous cafes and terraces, both in and around the park and in the Old Town district.

The Bellu Museum, run by the Administration of Cemeteries and Crematories, holds painting exhibitions, photography exhibitions and pilgrimages to the graves of the artists buried in the cemetery. Bellu is the biggest cemetery in Bucharest and one of the most popular in the country. It came into operation in 1858 and the inside chapel was built in 1852, by architect Alexander Oprescu. Many great Romanians lie here, such as

Courtesy of Andrei Morosan_www.orasul.ro

Relaunched on February 5, 1990, the Romanian Peasant Museum marks the continuation of a long tradition, which started when the ﬁrst autonomous museum for peasant art was established in 1906. Currently, the venue is more than a static exhibition of somewhat exotic country life, offering a forum for creativity, urban socializing and the reinvention of lost values. Between July 8 and August 28, the Cultural Austrian Forum and the Romanian Peasant Museum are organizing “At the Countryside”, a photo exhibition comprising 136 photos of the Austrian countryside taken by Manfred Willmann between 1983 and 1991, Willmann depicted both the beautiful and less appealing aspects of rustic life, using a special technique focusing on light effects.

Bellu Cemetery Calea Victoriei Tours National Art Museum Casa Vernescu Excalibur

Stavropoleos Church Built in 1724, the monastery is one of the oldest and best preserved monuments built in the Brancoveanu architectural style – a combination of Byzantine and local elements. The building is one of the three Bucharest landmarks that get a mention in the 2011 edition of the Michelin Guide. The Christian Orthodox church also hosts one of the most important collection of religious art and manuscripts. Address: Stavropoleos Street 4, Information: www.stavropoleos.ro; the service schedule is on display on the site

It’s time to eat. And nowhere is more representative of the tourist’s Bucharest than this delightfully kitschy eatery. The restaurant is an easy walk from the church.

Count Dracula Club Cheesy vampiric fun doesn’t get much tackier than at Count Dracula Club, a theme restaurant that hosts twice weekly visits from the Impaler himself (well, a very amusing impersonator). The atmosphere is suitably creepy and attention has been lavished equally on the menu, which is based on and features quotes from the novel. And the cuisine is surprisingly good for a theme eatery, although vegetarians might be

Bellu Cemetery

Mihai Eminescu, George Bacovia, Theodor Aman, Traian Vuia, Henri Coanda, Ana Aslan, Thomas Caragiu, George Dinica and Amza Pellea. Some of the funerary monuments were made by the architect Ion Mincu, while the special architecture, ornaments and decorations make this space an interesting place to visit. Address: Serban Voda Street 249; nearest subway station: Eroii Revolutiei Information : 021 336 7783

Head back up north, either by taxi or by taking the metro to Universitate.

Bucharest tours by the Calea Victoriei Foundation The Calea Victoriei Foundation organizes frequent walks to help participants discover Bucharest. Walks planned for this August are “Discover the old city center”, on August 6, at 18.00, “Discover Magheru Boulevard”, on August 13, at 18.00, and “Discover Ioanid Park,” on August 20, all with historian Anita

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Serea. The old city tour will include the following landmarks: Hanul lui Manuc, St. Dumitru Church, Stavropoleos Monastery, National History Museum (formerly known as the Post Ofﬁce Palace), Caru cu Bere, the CEC HQ, National Bank of Romania, National Library, Linden Tree Inn and the Villacrosse Passage. Fee: RON 30 To book your place, e-mail contact@victoriei.ro. For more information, call 0723 167 892 or 021 321 3022. The Calea Victoriei Foundation is located on Caimatei Street 20, 3rd ﬂoor (next to Rosetti Square).

You may want to stop for refreshments before hitting the gallery.

The Romanian Medieval Art gallery is a must for any tourist trying to get a broader understanding of the Byzantine tradition that inﬂuenced the architecture, art and manufacturing of the Romanian principalities. It displays an impressive collection (9,500 works) of icons, embroideries and textiles, fragments of murals, religious cult objects, books and manuscripts. Address: Calea Victoriei 49-53 Information: 021.313.30.30, www.mnar.arts.ro

Casa Vernescu

Address: Calea Victoriei 133; nearest subway station: Victoriei; Reservations: 021 311 97 44; 0745 090 434, e-mail: ofﬁce@casavernescu.ro, contact: Ms. Daniela Capatana Price range: average to expensive.

For an upmarket dining experience, you can stay and eat at Casa Vernescu. However, for something more unusual, take a taxi or a leisurely stroll to Piata Kogalniceanu.

If all things medieval be thy thing, hurry hence to Excalibur. The tavern style eatery promises victuals from the middle ages, served by appropriately attired wenches and without modern conveniences such as knives and forks, so be prepared to get thy hands dirty! The food, which is basically meaty Romanian, is humorously styled as Sir Lancelot’s Lunch and Sir Arthur’s Dinner. The big round tables are great for groups. Other outlets can be found at Str Academiei 39-41 and Str Blanari 9. Address: B-dul Mihai Kogalniceanu 3. Reservations: 021 311 6282. www.restaurantexcalibur.ro. 12.0000.00. Price range: average

OLD TOWN FAVORITES Passajul Vilacrosse The old part of Bucharest has seen an architectural and economic revival over Price range: average the past couple of years as many local entrepreneurs Grand Café Van Gogh have taken on the mission Once upon a time there was Amsterdam of transforming the area in Café, which was pretty much the epicenter of expat social life in Bucharest. between Universitate, Unirii Amsterdam is no more, but its owners have brought the same relaxed Dutch Square and Calea Victoriei vibe to Van Gogh. Classiness ooziness into an attractive destinafrom the high ceiling, understated wooden furnishings and thick drapes at tion. Some of the best the entrance, and there’s a range of places in the Old Town are fresh, simple and appetizing eats and drinks appropriate for all times of the presented below.

day. The delicious smoothies and luxury hot chocolates are just two of the many highlights. In summer you can avoid the smokiness that sometimes prevails inside by positioning yourself on the spacious terrace.

Photo: Laurentiu Obae

Located on Bucharest’s so-called Museum Street, Calea Victoriei, the Vernescu restaurant was originally built in 1821 by Filip Lens, the son of a French nobleman from Marseilles. The palace was a wedding present to his Romanian ﬁancé Lisaveta Balotescu-Carpinisanu, but was severely damaged by ﬁre just a year later. In 1886 it was sold to lawyer, liberal politician and art connoisseur Gheorghe Dimitrie Vernescu (also known as Guna Vernescu) from where it would get its now famous name. Between June 30 and September 8, Casa Vernescu hosts a series of 11 events organized by Casino Palace for both players and other guests. The theme parties take place every Thursday, under the name of A Summer of Sensations, featuring gastronomic festivals and bartending shows for visitors. Food and fashion shows are also part of the schedule. Forthcoming parties include: “Magnetismo de Brasil” (July 21), “Caribbean Colors” (July 28), “Dress to Impress” (August 4), “Fire and Ice” (August 11), “Summer Nights” (August 18), “Mediterranean Blue” (August 25), “Wild, Wild, West” (September 1), “Espana Emotion” (September 8).

Excalibur

Photo: Laurentiu Obae

National Art Museum

CITY 15

MoJo

MoJo This British-themed joint has been making waves on the Bucharest social scene since opening a few years back. Split between three levels, there’s the roomy cellar, which hosts live rock, jazz, blues and folk bands and stand-up comedy, a bar on the ground ﬂoor and an upstairs karaoke lounge, open nightly, where even the most feeble attempts to sing are warmly applauded by the friendly crowd. Though it’s not cheap, in its short lifespan MoJo has established itself as something of an institution, thanks to the jolly atmosphere and events. Address: Str Gabroveni 14. Reservations: 0760 263496; www.mojomusic.ro.

Address: Str Smardan 9. Reservations: 031 107 6371. www.vangogh.ro. Price range: average

Whispers Probably the closest thing Bucharest has to a real British boozer, Whispers – the pub that resembles a church – has long been a favorite for its all-day breakfasts, big-screen sport and darts. However, it’s now staking a claim to be a summer venue too with a terrace, which thanks to its location at the eastern end of Lipscani is a lot quieter than the typical Old Town outside space. The food is okay rather than great, and takes a while to arrive, but the venue remains popular with expats and locals alike. Address: Str Brezoianu 4. Reservations: 021 314 2901. www.whispers.ro. Price range: average

Caru cu Bere restaurant Caru’ cu Bere, one of the oldest beerhouses in Bucharest, was opened for the ﬁrst time in 1879 in the former Zlatari inn and, after 20 years moved to

Stavropoleos Street, where it can be found today. The beerhouse is a traditional place, where each object has its own story. It is one of the few venues in Bucharest where it seems that nothing has changed, and the architecture reminds visitors why Bucharest was once dubbed the “little Paris”. Distinctive elements include the murals, stained glass and carved cross-beams. The place's symbol is Old Ghita, the cellar man, who worked at Caru cu Bere for decades. Along with the beer made to a secret original recipe, Caru' cu bere is also famous for its food, and regular live dancing is also held there. Address: Stavropoleos St. 5, Bucharest; Reservations: 021 313 75 60, 0726 282 373 Price range: affordable-average.

Absintherie Sixtina “Liberte, egalite, absinthe” is the comic motto with which Absintherie Sixtina, the historical center pub/café/bar, welcomes its visitors. The location offers a plethora of alcoholic beverages, from wines and beers to absinth, of course. The most impressive seems to be, however, the wide range of Belgian beers. The music is not too loud and not too commercial, but suits the relaxing and conversation-friendly setting. Another plus for the location is its capaciousness, as it takes up an entire ﬂoor of an old building, and never seems too crowded. There is also a small balcony, home to just one table with two chairs, adding to the charm. Address: Covaci Street 1; Reservations: 021 310 35 66; e-mail: bogdant@absintheriesixtina.ro, mariusd@absintheriesixtina.ro Price range: average.

Pasajul Vilacrosse A walk through the Vilacrosse passage can take you back in time to late 19th century Bucharest, provided you visit it at the least crowded hours of the day. The passage, which now hosts numerous pubs and coffee shows, links Calea

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16 SUMMER IN THE CITY Victoriei to the Central Bank in Lipscani Street. The U-shaped, skylight-covered passage was built in 1891 by Felix Xenopol and carries the name of catalan architect Xavier Villacrosse, who moved to Bucharest and served as the capital’s chief architect between 18401850. The place was also the first location of the Romanian stock exchange. The passage has two branches: Vilacrosse (which faces Lipscani) and Macca (name after the brother in law of the passage’s constructor). In between you can find, among other outlets, an Egyptian-themed coffee shop, a Chinese restaurant, and the Opium Stage Club. How to find it: in between Calea Victoriei and Lipscani street

SUMMER LOCATIONS Summer in Bucharest can be a grueling experience when temperatures easily go above 30 degrees. Some places to find both shade and amusement are reviewed here.

the Eventim network (Germanos, Orange, Vodafone, Domo stores, Humanitas and Carturesti bookshops and online at www.eventim.ro) for RON 90 until July 31, RO 110 between August 1 and 12, and RON 130 on the concert day. Ian Brown will also perform here on September 10.

FILM REVIEW

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Address: Carol Park, Cutitul de Argint Street 26

Summer Well Festival @Domeniul Stirbey Held just outside Bucharest, in Buftea, Summer Well is bringing top indie rockers Interpol to town. Other big-name acts who will appear at the festival on August 13 and 14 include Plan B, the Noisettes, Mystery Jets, Grafﬁti6, Chew Lips, the Raveonettes, The Wombats, Chapel Club and Alex Clare. Buses will run to the venue, and organizers also recommend car pools, since parking is limited. Two-day tickets, which cost RON 99, are available at easytickets.ro, eventim.ro as well as from Orange shops. Address: Stirbey Voda 36, Buftea, Ilfov county, Romania; Information: 0374 055 593 (for the Stirbey Property); for festival information, see: www.summerwell.ro.

Waterpark Herastrau Summer Theater The theater located in Bucharest’s largest and most popular park, Herastrau, has a very spacious stage, covered with a black dome. With 2,500 seats in the amphitheater and ramps for disabled visitors, this is the location where the Constantin Tanase comedy theater holds its summer spectacles. The next concert is by Omara Portuondo and Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club. Address: Herastrau Park, near Expoﬂora (access from the Arcul de Triumf entrance) Information: 021 312 1029; e-mail: contact@teatrultanase.ro

Arenele Romane Arenele Romane is a large outdoor space, generally used for concerts, with a capacity of about 5,000. The next scheduled event is the Romanian leg of the Deftones’ European tour, which is part of Alternative Summer Day, on August 13. Tickets can be purchased from

When it’s summer in the city, the ubiquitous sun drives many to gather at overcrowded pools, where the atmosphere can be too suffocating to cool down. Waterpark is a pollution free area, despite the jet noises in the background (it’s near the airport). However, bathing there is relaxing if you overlook the details. Some 27 water slides, 4,000 sun-beds and numerous facilities prove that sunbathing is big business. If lying in the sun is not you cup of tea, you can play table tennis, beach volleyball or beach football while an artist entertains the visitors. Address: Calea Bucuresti 255A, near Otopeni Airport www.waterpark.ro How to get there: RATB: 783 express bus from Unirii Square to Otopeni Airport (ICSIM station) Car: Off the Bucharest-Ploiesti road: Entrance prices Adults: Mon-Fri: RON 30, w/e: RON 50 Children under 1.40m tall: Mon-Fri: RON 15, w/e: RON 25

Photo: Laurentiu Obae

Waterpark

Pottering off: the long-running film franchise comes to a close

∫ DEBBIE STOWE Directed by: David Yates Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint On at: Baneasa Drive in Cinema, Cinema City Cotroceni, Cinema City Sun Plaza, CinemaPro, Cityplex, Corso, Hollywood Multiplex, Movieplex Cinema, Samsung Imax Cotroceni, The Light So, the boy wizard is finally becoming a man wizard. After years of sorcery, and philosopher’s stones, and chambers of secrets, and prisoners of Azkaban, and billions of pounds of takings, Harry Potter is set to hang up his wand. If you’re coming to this film like I did, not having read a word of JK Rowling’s world-dominating books or movies, some of the plot intricacies may be lost on you. But you will soon grasp that Harry (the main one; Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (the clever one; Emma Watson) and Ron (the ginger one; Rupert Grint) are facing off against the bad guy Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), which is a poor choice of words because he doesn’t actually have a face, or, more specifically, a nose. This rudimentary outline is enough to enjoy the film, although the big plot revelations, when they come, may leave you cold. But there is still plenty to enjoy. The fantastical premise, huge budget and lavish production values, set the scene for some impressive sequences. An early one sees the spell-tastic trio of

chums blag their way into a bank vault by impersonating a villain from previous films played by Helena Bonham Carter. The austere bank with its rows of grayfaced cashiers is an imaginative creation, the ideal staid juxtaposition for the chaos that Harry and co unleash. HBC is just one of the phalanx of heavyweight stars on duty, in what seems like a roll call of all the A-list British thespians of whom you have ever heard. Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Julie Walters, John Hurt and Michael Gambon are just a few of the big hitters, while Ralph “Call Me Raif” Fiennes is suitably sinister as Voldy. Judi Dench, Helen Mirren and Colin Firth would have made a full house. Whatever your suspicions regarding big bucks film franchise and best-selling children’s books, with this acting talent, this narrative premise and these visuals, it would be difficult not to find something to like in this final part of the saga. It may be a little slow to start, but once it’s in full swing, HPATDHP2 will soon have you, at least partially, under its persuasive spell. And though a series of this length and popularity could fall into the trap of taking itself a little too seriously, there’s enough British humor to puncture that. A coda at the end feels a little tacked on, but in all this concluding installment feels like a satisfying way for Harry and pals to Potter off into the sunset. I still don’t know what a deathly hallow is, though.

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PROPERTY 17

RETAIL

Crouching tiger, hidden prices: that’s Bucharest’s China Town Bucharest has long been home to a significant Chinese community, and the tiger-economy country is the inspiration behind a new retail development, China Town, which opened to much fanfare last week. Business Review travelled to the outskirts of town to see what all the fuss was about, and found a strange mix of forward thinking and the old habits of the informal economy.

Agerpres

sine, and the Libra Bank branch that was the commercial structures. clearly open and ready for business, in the The NaturaCafe was closed, but advertised fast food, shaorma-style. The midst of a cash-based market. (Prior to the relatively recent entry of NaturaCenter is comprised of indoor commercial spaces, housed in four single- so-called relationship banking from comstory structures, most of which were still mercial banks and community-based covacant, and the few vendor-occupied operatives, the American versions of China Town, which are based in the inspaces were not open for business. The Pavilions, three single-story ner-city, not the outskirts of town, grew hangars, include commercial spaces up in the midst of the traditional Chinese seemingly at 25 percent occupancy, with network of family and friends finance, Chinese and Romanian vendors selling known as the ‘chop’, ‘chit’ or ‘flying money’ system.) clothing and toys (Pavilion A), more clothThe most memorable moment was ing & accessories (Pavilion B), and household items (Pavilion C). Each pavilion is Prime Minister Emil Boc’s appearance at the China Town inaugural ceremony. equipped with public toilets. Although most of the vendor-occu- Given Boc’s past declarations regarding a pied spaces in the Pavilions were theo- crackdown on fiscal evasion, customs retically open for business, there were no fraud and money laundering in the ‘grey’ prices displayed anywhere, no cash reg- economy, the local press was eager to isters – and therefore no fiscal receipts to point out the irony of the ‘fiscal irregube had, as required by law – and no hope larities’ they were observing on the spot: no prices advertised at the site and no of making any card payments. In this context, I found it impractical to undertake ‘bon fiscal’ issued. And I couldn’t help but notice the subany serious consumer-oriented journalism regarding price (or value) compar- tle irony in Boc’s inaugural message: isons for similar products sold by com- that Romanians no longer have to travel petitor commercial enterprises on the to London, Paris, New York or San Francisco to visit China Town – which inadstrip, or online. However, I will mention that I found vertently promoted domestic tourism – a nice bathroom unit, a porcelain sink otherwise it’s hard to imagine how many with wooden cabinet and mirror, at one foreign tourists China Town will attract to of the Pavilions (with a quoted price of Romania, or even from the center of RON 700), and subsequently found a Bucharest. In a China shop: Bucharest’s new China Town hosts hundreds of stores; inset: PM Moreover, unlike the Bucharest ensimilar unit at the Doraly Expo Market Emil Boc with the Chinese Ambassador across the street for an advertised price terprise, the American versions of China Town have developed on the back of of RON 350. ∫ ANDREA OVANEZIAN Moreover, at 09:30 on a weekday the decades of natural evolution which crepiqued my interest – the promise of a ChiDoraly’s parking lot was full of cars and ated an intricate nexus of community, na Town that, after several development minivans with license plates from all culture, cuisine and commerce – with litstages, would encompass, on 400,000 July 19 saw the much trumpeted opening corners of Romania and even some for- tle or no help from local government sqm, roughly 1,500 vendor spaces (wholeof China Town, a 10km strip of commereign plates, most likely on second-hand agencies and financial institutions, until sale/retail), a ‘village’ of traditional Chicial centers that starts from Sos. Cocars owned by Romanians. If the Doraly’s the later years – and that were built nese houses and modern residential lentina (Voluntari), crosses the Bucharest parking lot says anything about the mostly through the tenacity and hard apartments, restaurants and clubs, a fitbeltway (Centura) and stretches into Afuness center, a nursery school, a medical ‘promise of tourism’ (the mantra of China work of their Chinese-American resimati via the Sos. Bucuresti-Urziceni. The Town’s executive director), then clearly dents. ∫ clinic, a deposit warehouse, and 5,000 strip encompasses two generations of it seems that the Doraly has delivered on parking spaces. All of which – and here’s commercial centers. this promise. the ‘kicker’ – will attract thousands of Among the first generation are the Perhaps Romanian government offibazaar-style wholesalers Europa, Niro, tourists. cials should take note: if you want to efArriving in China Town at 09:00 (the Doraly Expo Market, and (much later) fectively promote tourism for your counopening time was 06:00), I found a mostDragonul Rosu – the precursor to China try, the frontline – and most practical – ly empty parking lot and discovered that Town. Among the second generation are strategy would be to promote domestic the official inauguration had been reValue of the project: EUR 27 million the international chain stores – which blur tourism first, as it can also pay to consider scheduled from 10:00 to ‘sometime Investors: a group of 19 Chinese busithe distinctions between wholesale and the customers you don’t have or don’t around noon’. ness people retail – such as Metro, Praktiker and CarMeanwhile, the outdoor ‘press center’, want. refour. Location: Afumati, 16 kilometers from Among the memorable stand-out which consisted of an un-manned table Bucharest But back to why I was visiting (the aspects from my visit to China Town, Surface: 138,500 sqm and two chairs, lacked any press reprenewest) China Town. Sometimes we are were the carpet store dubbed “Pierre sentatives or materials, and I was unable desperate for adventure – especially as we Stores: 1,240 Cardin Antibacterian” which made me to find any type of guide to the layout of anticipate the steamy start of our summer Open Mon-Sat 06:00-17:00 laugh; a Samsonite store that seemed out the commercial spaces. vacations. Sos. Bucuresti-Urziceni 17, of place, the NaturaCafe, which actually Nonetheless, I was easily able to make Afumati (Ilfov county) Meanwhile, the extensive and ensold neither natural food nor Chinese cuimy way around the half-moon layout of www.chinatownromania.ro thusiastic local press coverage had also

PROJECT PROFILE China Town

www.business-review.ro Business Review | July 25 -31, 2011

18 IN TOUCH CULTURAL CALENDAR Festivals July 29-31 Transilvania Fest Transilvania Fest will take place this year in Blaj, Alba county. A moveable culture and food festival, Transilvania Fest promotes culture, traditions and local points of attraction. July 30 Liberty Parade 2011 Venus-Saturn beach (in Constanta) One of the top dance festivals in Romania is bringing big names like Sharam, DJ Optick, DJ Allen, Vali Barbulescu, Christian Green, DJ Andi, Liviu Hodor, Vika Jigulina, NTFO and DJ Raoul to the beach between Venus and Saturn resorts in Constanta. Access to the 12-hour house music marathon is free of charge, but for over 18s only. Contemporary Art Museum June 9 - August 28 In between Frames Artists: Adad Hannah, Anetta Mona Chisa and Lucia Tkacova, Bettina Hoffmann, Jason Arsenault, Jerome De-

BUSINESS AGENDA lapierre, Perry Bard, Rozalinda Borcila. Until 31 December 2011 Theodor Pallady Museum (Spatarului Street 22) Volume and Perspective in the Graphic Creation of Theodor Pallady Part of a cycle of exhibitions begun in 2003 to highlight the graphic work of Pallady, supported by the Serafina and Gheorghe Raut Collection. Cinema July 22 Zookeeper (Comedy) Directed by: Frank Coraci Starring: Rosario Dawson, Kevin James, Adam Sandler On at: Movieplex Cinema Plaza, The Light Cinema, Hollywood Multiplex, Cityplex, Cinema City Sun Plaza, Cinema City Cotroceni, Cinema City Cotroceni VIP, Baneasa Drive-In Cinema Plot: Zookeeper Griffin is devoted to his job, but despairs of finding love when his girlfriend leaves him because of his unglamorous line of work.When he de-

WHO’S NEWS Ezio Salvai is the new CEO of Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Romania. He will be responsible for coordinating all the bank’s activities and strategy and implementing the new business plan of Intesa Sanpaolo Group. Previously Salvai was president of the management board at Banka Koper, Slovenia, for the last three years. He started his banking career in 1972 at Istituto Bancario Sanpaolo in Turin and has held various executive positions, both on the Italian market and abroad. Salvai was head of the Central and Eastern Europe banks department at the newly founded Intesa Sanpaolo Group. He also had a fiveyear mandate as CEO and member of the board with Inter Europa Bank, Hungary. Over the last five years he has been part of the supervisory board of several banks of Intesa Sanpaolo: as deputy chairman at VUB (Slovakia), chairman of Intesa Sanpaolo Banka (Bosnia Herzegovina) and as member of the recently established Intesa Sanpaolo Card.

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cides to quit the zoo for a new job selling sports cars, the (talking) animals conspire to help him get his ex back. See next week’s BR for a full review. July 29 Super 8 (Mystery / Sci-ﬁ) Directed by: JJ Abrams Starring: Elle Fanning, Amanda Michalka and Kyle Chandler Plot: After witnessing a mysterious train crash in the summer of 1979, a group of friends begin noticing strange things going on around their small town, and decide to investigate the creepy phenomenon. July 29 Green Lantern (Action / Sci-Fi) Directed by: Martin Campbell Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Peter Sarsgaard, Blake Lively Plot: A test pilot is granted a mystical green ring that bestows him with otherworldly powers, as well as membership of an intergalactic squadron tasked with keeping peace within the universe.

July 25 10:00 The Bucharest Stock Exchange organizes a press conference to mark the inclusion of Market Making for Brent Crude Oil and Silver Futures in the trading session at IBC Modern building. By invitation only. 10:30 Evolio, the telecommunications and GPS navigation systems provider, is organizing a press conference to mark the launch of a new product at Epoque hotel. By invitation only. July 28 10:30 Proﬁ chain store organizes a press conference to mark the launch of a new IT literacy programme for students in 200 schools at Ramada Plaza hotel. By invitation only.

Business Review welcomes information for Who’s News from readers. Submissions may be edited for length and clarity. Get in touch at simona.bazavan@business-review.ro

Florian Ivan is the new sales director of TotalSoft. He has previously worked for Microsoft Romania as partner strategy manager. In this new position Ivan will be responsible for integrating all of the company’s business lines from the perspective of the sales strategy, meeting the firm’s financial targets for the internal market and developing a network of clients that will support TotalSoft’s international expansion strategy.

Florentina Andrei has been appointed by TotalSoft to be responsible for the sale of the Charisma Suite business applications. For the past eight years she has worked as Charisma sales director. Andrei is a graduate of the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest and she holds an MBA. She joined the company back in 1999.

FOUNDING EDITOR Bill Avery EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Simona Fodor SENIOR JOURNALIST Otilia Haraga JOURNALISTS Simona Bazavan, Corina Dumitrescu COPY EDITOR Debbie Stowe COLLABORATORS Anda Sebesi, Michael Barclay ART DIRECTOR Alexandru Oriean PHOTOGRAPHER Laurentiu Obae LAYOUT Beatrice Gheorghiu

Adriana Ross-Maugourd presently the HR director of Metro Cash&Carry Romania, will temporarily take over HR responsibilities related to the opening of Metro Cash&Carry Indonesia. She joined Metro Cash&Carry Romania in 2000 as training and development manager. In 2003 Ross-Maugourd was appointed HR manager. The next year she became HR manager for Business Unit South East Europe and in 2005 she took over as HR manager for Metro Cash&Carry Romania and the Republic of Moldova. In 2007 she was promoted to HR director. From next year, Ross-Maugourd has been appointed head of change and transformation, with Metro AG.

Gabriela Nita is the new HR manager of Euromedia and Beta Cons. She has over 12 years of professional experience in the field, having worked both in

PUBLISHER Anca Ionita EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR George Moise SALES & EVENTS DIRECTOR Oana Molodoi MARKETING MANAGER Adina Milea SALES & EVENTS Ana-Maria Nedelcu, Claudia Munteanu RESEARCH & SUBSCRIPTION Lili Voineag PRODUCTION Dan Mitroi DISTRIBUTION Eugen Musat

consulting and as in-house specialist. Nita will be responsible for coordinating the internal communication for the two companies and other HR activities.

Mihaela Ionescu has joined Euromedia and Beta Cons as sales manager. She has over eight years of professional experience in media and advertising. Ionescu has previously worked for Odyssey Communication as senior media planner. In the past she has also worked for the Optimum Media Direction and Mindshare Media agencies.

Olivius Udrea has been appointed sales manager by Euromedia and Beta Cons. He has previously worked as sales director for Inga Media. Udrea has been working in sales for the past 12 years. He began his career with Euromedia where he worked as sales manager for eight years.

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